Heart Attack

Symptoms for Men

Discomfort, pressure, heaviness, or pain in the chest, arm, or below the breastbone.

Discomfort radiating to the back, jaw, throat, or arm

Fullness, indigestion, or choking feeling (may feel like heartburn)

Sweating, nausea, vomiting, or dizziness

Extreme weakness, anxiety, or shortness of breath

Rapid or irregular heartbeats

Symptoms for Women

Chest Pressure: Elephant sitting across the chest if it lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back. This is the most common symptom for men and women but women are somewhat more likely to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.

Shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain

Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest, particularly if it lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.

Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.

Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

Actions

Call 911 – Heart Attack is a medical emergency

Ask the patient and the riding group if anyone has nitroglycerin pills. Take one of available. Note that they expire very quickly and must be fresh to be effective.

If no nitroglycerin is available, take an aspirin. Chew and swallow one non-coated adult aspirin (325 mg). Chewing or crushing the aspirin gets it into your bloodstream sooner.

Cardiac Arrest

Symptoms

A Heart Attack victim is not responsive and/or has no pulse.
In a Heart Attack, blood flow to the muscle of the heart is impaired. With Cardiac Arrest, the heart is not longer functioning.

Actions

Call 911 – Cardiac Arrest is a medical emergency

Check the pulse in the groin area (femoral), wrist (radial) or throat (carotid).

If the person is unresponsive and pulse-less, begin Compression CPR at a rate of 100 to 110 per minute (to cadence of Bee Gee’s ‘Staying Alive’).

Note: The Compression CPR may break ribs or the sternum (chest plate) of the heart attack victim, even if performed by professionals. Broken ribs can be repaired, not doing the CPR can result in death.

Have someone confirm the presence of a femoral pulse during CPR to show that blood is circulating. Continue CPR until the EMT's arrive.

Nausea and vomiting frequently occur during CPR. Turn the head to the side and clear vomit with fingers.